diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/TriviaTask.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/TriviaTask.java
index 156201f..7c0620f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/TriviaTask.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/runnables/TriviaTask.java
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ public class TriviaTask implements Runnable
     @Override
     public void run()
     {
+
         if(previousMessage != null)
         {
             // todo: we shouldn't use this method, since it messes with the database... look at coin reflip
@@ -75,8 +76,9 @@ public class TriviaTask implements Runnable
             int topScore = 0;
             StringBuilder othersBuilder = new StringBuilder();
 
-            LinkedList<TriviaScore> triviaScores = new LinkedList<>(TriviaUtil.channelAndScores.get(channel.getId()));
-            triviaScores.sort(new TriviaScoreComparator());
+            LinkedList<TriviaScore> triviaScores = TriviaUtil.channelAndScores.get(channel.getId());
+            if(triviaScores == null) triviaScores = new LinkedList<>();
+            else triviaScores.sort(new TriviaScoreComparator());
 
             int pos = 0;
             Integer previousScore = null;
@@ -119,17 +121,19 @@ public class TriviaTask implements Runnable
             String winnersTitle = "\uD83D\uDCAB ";
             winnersTitle += winners.size() == 1 ? "Winner" : "Winners";
 
+            String winnersString = winnersBuilder.toString();
+            String othersString = othersBuilder.toString();
 
             EmbedBuilder scoreboardBuilder = new EmbedBuilder();
             scoreboardBuilder.setColor(Cache.getBotColor());
             scoreboardBuilder.setTitle("\uD83C\uDF1F Trivia Scoreboard");
-            scoreboardBuilder.addField(winnersTitle, winnersBuilder.toString(), false);
-            scoreboardBuilder.addField("☁️ Others", othersBuilder.toString(), false);
+            if(!winnersString.isEmpty()) scoreboardBuilder.addField(winnersTitle, winnersString, false);
+            else scoreboardBuilder.addField("\uD83D\uDE22 Sad Trivia",
+                    "No one played \uD83D\uDE2D", false);
+            if(!othersString.isEmpty()) scoreboardBuilder.addField("☁️ Others", othersString, false);
 
             channel.sendMessage(scoreboardText).addEmbeds(scoreboardBuilder.build()).queue();
 
-
-
             // remove all cached data
             TriviaUtil.channelsRunningTrivia.remove(channel.getId());
             TriviaUtil.channelAndWhoResponded.remove(channel.getId());
@@ -185,6 +189,7 @@ public class TriviaTask implements Runnable
                 .setActionRow(answerButtons)
                 .complete();
 
+
         Cache.getDatabaseSource().trackRanCommandReply(previousMessage, author);
         // todo: ^ we should get rid of this tracking, since we don't need to know who started the trivia.
         // todo: however, for now, that's the only way to avoid a thread-locking scenario as some data is
diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/TriviaUtil.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/TriviaUtil.java
index bec479e..49fef41 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/TriviaUtil.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/TriviaUtil.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import java.net.URL;
 import java.net.URLConnection;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.LinkedList;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.concurrent.ScheduledFuture;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ public class TriviaUtil
     public static HashMap<String, List<String>> channelAndWhoResponded = new HashMap<>();
 
     // first string is the channelId, the list contain all score records for that channel
-    public static HashMap<String, List<TriviaScore>> channelAndScores = new HashMap<>();
+    public static HashMap<String, LinkedList<TriviaScore>> channelAndScores = new HashMap<>();
 
     public static String getTriviaLink(int categoryId) {return triviaLink + categoryId; }
     public static String getCategoriesLink() {return categoriesLink; }
@@ -116,8 +117,8 @@ public class TriviaUtil
 
         if(trackResponse(user, event.getChannel()))
         {
-            List<TriviaScore> scores = channelAndScores.get(channelId);
-            if(scores == null) scores = new ArrayList<>();
+            LinkedList<TriviaScore> scores = channelAndScores.get(channelId);
+            if(scores == null) scores = new LinkedList<>();
             TriviaScore currentUserScore = null;
             for(TriviaScore score : scores)
             {